Cammed hinge



H. KRAUSE CAMMED HINGE Dec. l0, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Dec. 2. 1960 INVENTOR. rr/ MM5 H. KRAUSE CAMMED HINGE Dec. 10, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Deo. 2. 1960 INVENTOR. ,fri/ZZ Maz/5e; Bil/Darker fdr/er ,if/aways.

attesta Patented ec.. l0, ld-3 ice 3,113,339 CAMMED HINGE Herbert Krause, Chicago, lll., assigner to Chicago Forging and l'vlanulacturing Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Delaware Filed Bee. 2, 196i), Ser. No. 73,300 10 Claims. (Cl. .1d- 12MB This invention relates to hinge mechanisms and particularly to lthose employed in support of automobile hoods and the like.

One purpose ofthe invention is to provide an articulated hinge having a plurality of movable members and effective to cause simultaneous forward and upward movement of one of the hinged members.

Another purpose is to provide an articulated hinge having a yielding means, there being elements of the hinge eiective to maintain said yielding means under substantially constant tension throughout the entire excursion of the hinge between closed and open position.

Another purpose is to provide an articulated hinge mechanism having a yielding means maintained at substantially continuous tension at all positions of said hinge, the means employed for maintenance of said continuous tension being effective also to urge the hinge into each of its terminal positions.

Another purpose is to provide an articulated hinge mechanism having a yielding means secured thereto and having associated therewith a pivoted element effective to control said yielding means throughout the excursion of said hinge mechanism.

Another purpose is to provide an articulated hinge mechanism including a pivoted element serving to control the tension of the ielding means associated with said mechanism and additionally to function as a cammed abutment for said hinge.

Other purposes will appear from time to time during the course of the specification and claims.

I illustrate my invention more or less diagrammatically in the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation illustrating the hinge of the invention in closed position;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view in partial cross section and with parts broken away; and

FIGURE 3 is a View similar to that of FIGURE 1 with the hinge of the invention shown in open position.

Like parts are indicated by like numerals throughout the speciiication and claims.

Referring now to the drawings, FIGURE l thereof, the numeral 1 illustrates generally a mounting plate. The plate ll may be of substantially continuous planar extension on both sides and may be of relatively thin plate stock. Attaching apertures 2 may be formed in the plate ll for attachment of the plate to the body or one of the members to be hinged. For example, the plate ll may be attached to an automobile body, it being understood that a pair of the mechanisms illustrated in FIGURE l might be suitably employed in connection therewith.

Pivotally mounted, as at d, on one side of plate 1 is an arm or hinge lever 5, the pivotal mounting of the arm 5 being positioned adjacent one end of the arm 5. The opposite end of arm d is pivotally secured as at 6 to a rear end portion of a mounting bracket 7, it being understood that the bracket 7 would, in the use of the hinge, be secured to the other member to be hinged, e.g. the hood cover for the hood body to which the plate Il is secured.

The bracket 7 has a forward portion pivotally secured, as at S, to an end portion of a link arm 9. The opposite end portion of link arm 9 is pivotally secured as at lll, as may be best seen in FIGURE 3, to an end portion and particularly to of a second hinge arm or lever 1l. The opposite end of lever 11 is pivotally secured as at 12 to the plate l on the opposite side thereof from the side to which hinge arm 5 is pivotally secured. lt will be further noted that the pivot points d of lever 5 and l2 of lever l1 are spaced on plate l and that the arms or levers 5 and lll extend in substantially opposite paths when the hinge is in closed position and in intersecting paths when the hinge is in open position.

An opening, which may take the form of an arcuate slot and which is indicated at l5, is formed in the plate l between the pivoted points 4 and 12. The lever 5 has a laterally offset segment 16 overlying and traveling above the opening 15 in the excursion of the hinge from closed to open position. A pin 17 is secured to the lever portion i6 and extends through the opening or slot l5. A hinge link i8 is pivotally secured to the pin i7 on the opposite side of plate 1 from lever 5, the pin 17 being pivotally secured to the link lil at one end of the link Elfi. The link l is pivotally secured adjacent its opposite end, as at 1.9, to the lever 11 at a point intermediate the ends thereof. As may be best seen in FIGURE 2, the lever il has its intermediate major segment offset to provide a space between the lever 1l and the plate 1 when the lever lll is in closed position and to accommodate reception of the link 18, the latter having odset end portions to provide for sliding contact of the link portion secured to the pin 17 with the plate l along and about the opening 15 during the excursion of the hinge between closed and open positions.

The hinge lever S has an angularly disposed end edge portion 2li and elongated ange 21 extends laterally from the edge 20 of lever 5 to provide an elongated, ilat abutment segment.

Pivotally mounted, as at 3l), to the plate 1 and at a point beyond the pivot point i from the pivot point 12 is a control or cam member 3l. It will be observed that the member 31 is pivoted to the plate 1 adjacent one of the ends of member 3l. The opposite end of cam member 3l has formed therein an aperture 32 adapted to engage with one end of a yielding means, such as the spring 33, the opposite end of which is secured to an ear 34 extending laterally from lever 5 at a point adjacent the pivot 6. The control cam member 31 has an edge disposed angularly with respect to a line drawn between the pivot point Btl and the aperture 32, the said edge being indicated by the numeral 3S and lying substantially parallel with the edge 2li of lever 5 when the hinge is in closed position as illustrated in .FIGURE 1. An elongated ange 36 extends laterally from and along the edge 3S for abutment with the abutment iiange 2l. on lever 5.

The use and operation of my invention are as follows:

lt will be understood that bracket member 7 is secured, by any suitable means, to the underside of an end portion of the member to be lifted, for example the hood cover of an automobile. Portions of attaching apertures for bracket 7 are illustrated, for example in FlGURE 2, as indicated by the numerals` 37. The bracket member 7 is of L-shape in cross section, comprising a hood coverreceiving surface 7a and a hinge-connecting segment 7b. It will be further understood that the opposite end portion of the member to be raised, Ifor example the hood cover of an automobile, would be positioned to the right of the figures as they appear in the drawings herein. As `the hood cover is raised the rear portion thereof, through the mediacy of the bracket 7 and the present hinge mechanism, is caused to move in an upward arc moving to the right, as the iigures are shown in the drawings, a slight distance as initial upward movement of the hood cover takes place. As the covet` is raised further the hinge moves through its excursion from the closed posi 3 tion illustrated in FiGURE 1 to the `fully open position illustrated in FIGURE 3.

A close examination of the drawings will illustrate the fact that, as the hinge moves from closed to open position the abutment surface 2&1, with its rounded end portion 2da, rides along the abutment suriace 36 of the cam 31 to rotate the same in a clockwise direction, as the parts are shown in the drawings, the initial contact ci rounded abutment surface 21a with elongated surface 36 occurring at a point adjacent the aperture 32 and substantially remote from the pivot point 30 of cam 3d.

Similarly, as the hinge moves from `fully open to closed position the action of spring 33 is effective -to rotate the cam 3l in a counterclockwise direc-tion as the parts are shown in the drawings, to retain the `same in contact with member 5.

Thus the spring r33 is maintained under substantially continuous tension throughout the excursion of the hinge and at all positions of the hinge. As the drawings are intended to illustrate, a spring 3-3` is caused to have substantially the same extension at all positions of the hinge. The arrangement of the parts, and lthe provision of cani member 31, is etective, however, to accomplish all of the functions previously required of yielding means ernployed in hinge structures of the prior art while avoiding the excessive stretching of springs previously employed as the hinge moved through its excursion from closed to open position and return.

The spring 33 acting through lever 5 and cam 311 causes contact of the abutment surface 3o with the abutment surface 21 to urge the hinge toward closed position when the hinge is in such position as illustrated in FIG- URE 1. Similarly the parts are dimensioned to cause the rounded abutment segment Zilla of surface 21 to move beyond the lower curved segment 36a of cam 3l when the hinge is in fully open position as illustrated at 33 in FIGURE 3. in this position the spring 33 acting through cam 311 and abutment segments 36a, 2da is eiective to urge the hinge toward open position. The overlap 38 is of suflicient area to provide for such retention of the hinge in open position while at the same time is of such minimum area that, combined with the rounded contirmation of the abutment surfaces, the resistance of the hinge toward movement in the direction of return to closed position may be overcome with slight manual pressure on the hood cover to which the bracket 7 is attached. Since the cam is pivoted at 3Q, it returns to the position illustrated in FIGURE 1 as the hinge moves toward closed position, thus maintaining a substantially continuous and identical distance between the aperture 32 and the ear 34 to which the opposite ends of the spring 33 are attached and the spring is therefore not subjected to any major stretch or tensioning as the hinge moves through its excursion.

Whereas I have described and claimed an operative device, VI wish it to be understood that this showing is to be taken in an illustrative or diagrammatic sense. There are many modications of the invention that will fall within the scope of the linvention that will be apparent to those skilled in the art. For example, while the spring 313` is described as being maintained at substantially a continuous tension throughout the excursion of the hinge, minute variances in tension, such as those caused by variance in manufacturing tolerances, for example, may be permitted as the hinge moves through its excursion without departing from the nature and scope of my invention, it being understood that such slight variances are so far removed from the wide ranges of tension to which springs employed in hinges of the prior art have been subjected as to be relatively inconsequential. Similarly, it will be noted that liange segments are illustrated as lformed along a major portion of most of the edges of lever and cam 3l, the same being employed for manufacturing or strength purposes, the abutment flange surfaces 211, *36 and 21a, 36a being employed as the active elements in the cooperation ot the cam 31 and lever 5.

4 The scope of the invention, therefore, should be limited only by the scope of the hereinafter appended claims.

I claim:

l. An articulated hinge mechanism comprising a mounting plate, a rst hinge lever pivotally mounted adjacent one of its ends :on said plate, a second hinge lever pivotally mounted adjacent one of its ends on said plate at a point spaced from the pivot point of said first hinge lever, a link arm pivotally mounted adjacent one of its ends to the opposite end of said second hinge lever, a bracket pivotally mounted adjacent one of its ends to the opposite end of said irst hinge lever, the opposite end of said bracket being pivotally connected lto the opposite end of said 4link arm, a cam member pivotally mounted directly on said plate at a point spaced from the pivot points of said iirst and second hinge levers, a yielding means extending between and secured to said cam member and said first hinge lever, abutment surfaces on said tirst hinge lever and said cam member, said abutment surfaces being positioned for sliding contact throughout the excursion of said articulated hinge mechanism from fully closed to fully open position.

2. An articulated hinge comprising a mounting plate, a plurality of hinge levers pivotally mounted on said plate, a mounting bracket, said hinge levers being pivotally mounted to said bracket, a separate cam member pivotally mounted directly on said plate, an abut-ment surface on said cam member, an abutment surface on one of said hinge levers, said abutment surfaces being positioned for sliding contact with each other throughout the excursion of said hinge from fully closed to fully open position and yielding means connected to said cam and said last named hinge lever.

3. In an articulated hinge, a ymounting plate, a plurality of hinge levers pivotally mounted on said mounting plate, a bracket, said hinge levers being pivotally mounted on said bracket, one of said hinge lever being mounted for rotation in one direction `as said hinge moves from open to closed position, a cam member pivotally mounted directly on said plate, `said cam -member having an abutment surface positioned for continuous `contact with said lastnarned `hinge lever Ithroughout the excursion of said hinge between closed and open position, yielding means extending between Iand secured to said cam Imember and said last-named hinge lever, `said cam being positioned for movement in said one direction as said hinge moves from closed to open position, said last-named hinge lever and said cam being mounted for movement in the opposite direction as said hinge moves iirom open to closed position, whereby said yielding means is maintained at substantially continuous tension throughout the excursion of said hin-ge between closed and open position.

4. ln an articulated hinge, a mounting plate, la plurality of hinge members pivotally mounted on said plate, Ia brac'llet, said hinge members being pivotally mounted on said bracket, one of said lhinge members having an abutment surface, la separate cam member pivotally .mounted on `said plate and having an abutment surface positioned for contact with said last-named vhinge member abutment Surface throughout the excursion of said hinge between closed and open position, a spring having one of its ends secured to said cam member and having its opposite end secured to said last-named hinge member, said cam mem- Iber and said last-named hinge member being mounted for rotation in the same direction as said hinge moves toward open position and in the same opposite direction as said hinge moves toward closed position whereby the distance between the points at iwhich said spring is connected to said cam and to said last-named hinge member is maintained substantially unchanged Ithroughout the excursion of `'said hinge between closed and open position.

5. The structure of claim 4 `characterized by and including rounded end segments on said abutment surfaces positioned `for overlapping contact when said hinge is in fully open position.

6. The structure of claim 4 wherein said abutment surfaces are positioned in relation to the pivot points of said `calin and said last-named member to cause said cam, under the influence of said spring, to urge said member toward hinge-closed position When the hinge is in closed position.

7. In an articulated hinge a mounting plate, a plurality of hinge levers pivotally mounted on said plate, a bracket, said hinge levers being pivotally mounted on said bracket, a cam pivotalily mounted directly on said plate at a point spaced lfrom the pivotal mounting of one of said hinge levers, said cam :having an abutment surface positioned Ibetvveen its pivot point and the pivot point of said lastnained hinge lever, said last-named hinge lever having Ia cooperating abutment surface positioned for continuous contact lwith said cam abutment surface and positioned between the pivot point of said hinge lever and the pivot point of said cam, a spring having one of its ends secured to said cam at a point between said cam abutment surface and said `cam pivot point, said spring Shaving its opposite end secured to said last-named hinge lever at a point beyond said hinge lever pivot point from said hinge lever abutment surface, said cam and said last-named hinge lever being mounted for rotation -in the same direction as said hinge moves between its closed and open positions.

8, The structure of claim 7 characterized -by and including a rounded abutment segment on one of said cam surfaces whereby said abutment `surfaces are moved into a minimum over-center position when `said hinge is in its fully open position.

9. An articulated hinge comprising a mounting plate, a plurality of hinge levers pivotally mounted on said plate, a bracket, said hinge levers being pivotally mounted on said bracket, one of said hinge levers having an elongated abutment surface, said abutment surface having a curved segment at one of its ends, a icam pivotally mounted directly on said plate and having an elongated abutment surface positioned [for continuous sliding contact with said hinge lever abutment surface, said cam surface having a rounded segment at its end opposite that opposed to the rounded seg-ment of said hinge lever abutment surface, `said rounded labutment segments being positioned for overlapping contact when said hinge is in -fully open position.

`10. An articulated hinge comprising a mounting plate, a plurality of hinge levers pivotally mounted on said plate, a bracket, said hinge levers being pivotally mounted on said bracket, a cam pivotally mounted on said plate, said cam having an abutment suuface positioned for continuous `Contact rwith one of said hinge levers as said hinge is moved between its closed and open positions, and yielding -mefans connected to said cam and said last-named. hinge lever and positioned Ito urge said cam abutment surface into continuous contact with said last-named hinge lever.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,594,219 Stockstrom July 27, 19216 2,707,362 Johnson May 3, 1955 2,751,625 Vigmostad June 26, 1956 2,956,303 Fiedler Oct. 18, y196() 2,987,753 Krause June 13, 1961 2,994,907 Hammond Aug. 8, 1961 FOREIGN PATENTS 271,560 Germany Mar. 18, 1914 

10. AN ARTICULATED HINGE COMPRISING A MOUNTING PLATE, A PLURALITY OF HINGE LEVERS PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON SAID PLATE, A BRACKET, SAID HINGE LEVERS BEING PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON SAID BRACKET, A CAM PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON SAID PLATE, SAID CAM HAVING AN ABUTMENT SURFACE POSITIONED FOR CONTINUOUS CONTACT WITH ONE OF SAID HINGE LEVERS AS SAID HINGE IS MOVED BETWEEN ITS CLOSED AND OPEN POSITIONS, AND YIELDING MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID CAM AND SAID LAST-NAMED HINGE LEVER AND POSITIONED TO URGE SAID CAM ABUTMENT SURFACE INTO CONTINUOUS CONTACT WITH SAID LAST-NAMED HINGE LEVER. 